Marble-shooting mechanism



Sept. 21,1926. 1,600,952

7 L. R. TRIPP MARBLE snoo'r me MECHANISM File April so, 1926 FIG. 2.

LEJL IE E. TPIPP' BY Ar -012m; Y.

retainer spring.

' muzzle.

Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES PAT 1,600,952 ENT OFFICE.

LESLIE R. TRIPP, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO J OSEPH H. CLOSE AND ONE-THIRD TO U'LYSSES G. CH

ARLES, BOTH Q1 TOPEKA, KANSAS.

MARBLE-SHOOTING MECHANISM.

Application filed April 30, 1926. Serial No. 105,844.

My invention relates to a marble shooting mechanism having a pistol shape for the structure in general.

The object of my invention is to provide a mechanism in which to place a marble and means for discharging it therefrom with a degree of accuracy as to marksmanship.

A further object of my invention is to construct a mechanism having the appearance of an automatic pistol of such size that can be carried in the pocket.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a marble shooting mechanism having variable means for the power of the plunger in discharging the marble.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a marble shooting mechanism that will accommodate marbles of different diameters, and having means to retaln the marble within the race when vertically or otherwise positioned.

These and other objects will hereinafter be more fully explained.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the mechanism. parts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view looking in at the Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line A in Fig. 1.

Fig. '5 is a fragmentary detail view of the Referring to the drawings indetail, 1 is the barrel,.2 is the grip. In the outer end of the barrel is a groove 3; said groove being semi-elliptical in shape, the major axis be1ng vertical. The object of this form of groove is that marbles of different diameters will engage on the side walls thereof; and a marble of mimmum size as shown'at 4 will position in the bottom of the groove as shown in Fig. 3. As a means to retain the marble, I have provided a leaf spr1ng mem spring being integral with the her 5; said extended portion reaching rearward near the breech of the barrel as at B. The end contacting the marble is provided with a depression as at'C conforming to a minimum sized marble but the depression will be sufficient to engage with marbles of' different diametersretalning them substantially in position.

Rearwardly positioned to the marble is a with as a stopping means whencontacting with the solid portion as at D. Diametrically positioned across the head is a channel. 10 in which is seated an elastic band 11, the opposite end of the band engaging in a notch 12 at the muzzle of the pistol. On the lower side of the head is a detent 13 adapted to engage in notches 14 hereinafter. described. The head 9 is adapted to slide in an opening 15. The rear portion of thespring member 5 'is a support for a guide member 16; said member having a curvature in the side thereof as at E conforming to the diameter of the head 9. And'as a convenient means to remove the plunger or to replace an elastic band, the screws .17 are removed and by springing the member-upward a band may be placed within the opening 15 and likewise the plunger removed by sliding it rearward untilthe end thereof dis engages from the aperture.

Positioned in the grip within "a slot F is pivotally mounted a trigger 18 having notches 14 longitudinally positioned thereplunger. When the trigger is drawn downward the notch will disengage from the detent at which time free passage will be had for the detent as it plunges forward to the point D. The trigger is tensioned-byv means of a spring 19, which is held firmly to the, grip between the guard 20 and the grip by means of a screw .21. The oppositeend of the guard is attached to the barrel by means of a screw 22. As a means'for training the pistol for aishot desired,'I have provided a muzzle sight 23 and a; breech sight 24. The muzzle sight is positioned on a band 25 functioning also as a supporting means for the side walls of the channel and rigidly attached thereto by'pins 26, one being on each side of the muzzle. j:

The mechanism herein disclosed is designed for playing games with marbles. 110

the parallel portion of the trigger with the gitudinally out of the groove,

wherein strong and accurate shots are reuired. However the marble may be disc arged moderately inits force.

To operate the pistol I take hold of the head 9 drawing it rearward to the desired notch in the trigger and, place a marble under the spring 7 so'that the depression in the end of the spring will engage on the top thereof. Then by si hting the pistol for the desired shot I pull the trigger, at which time the plunger is driven forwar contacting the marble with its-full force discharging it from under the'spring and lon- As heretofore stated marbles of difierent size may be employed and the plunger being of sufiicient diameter-so that the end thereof will contact the marble driving it axially with the barrel.

Such modifications may be employed as lie Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a marble shooting mechanism, 'a grip and a barrel having the shape of a pistol, a groove longitudinally positioned in the barrel, a plunger in axial relation with the groove, guiding means for the plunger, a detent on the plunger, a trigger pivotallv connected in axial alignment with the plunger so thatsthe notches on the aligned portion of the trigger with the barrel will angle downward from the pivot point when pulled preventing the detent from contacting with the forward notches from its notch of en gagement, an elastic band attached near the muzzle of the barrel, the opposite end of the band engages with the plunger as actuating means therefor, a spring attached to the barrel functioning as a retainer for a marble placed within the groove.

2. In a marble shooting mechanism, a semielliptioal groove in a portion of the length of the barrel, an aperture through a solid portion of the barrel adjacent the inner end of the groove, an opening in the barrel rearward the solid portion as a reciprocating means for the plunger head, the plunger slidably engaging in the aperture, a spring attached to the top of the barrel to function as a retaining means for a marble positioned in the groove, a' guide member attachedlto the rear'portion of the spring as guiding meansfor the plunger head, a detent on the head and a trigger having a pluralit of notches to engage with said detent, a c annel diametrically positioned on the rear plane of the head, an elastic band positioned in the channel, a notch near the end of the barrel to receive the opposite end of the band, a band having a sight laterally posid tioned thereon, said band functioning as a brace for the sidewalls ofthe channel and positioned in close proximity to the muzzle end of the barrel, a sight near the rear end of the spring member at the breech of the pistol, all substantially as shown. 3. In a marble shooting mechanism, a pistol shaped member having a groove in a portion of the barrel to receive marbles of different diameters, a' spring having a depression in the end thereof to engage on the marble as retaining -means, a plunger in axial relation with the groove, an elastic band actuating a stroke of the plunger to discharge the marble, a trigger havlng a portion parallel with the plunger, a plurality of notches along the parallel portion to engage with the plunger for a desired force of the plunger, a laterally extending portion from the parallel portion of the trigger as disengaging means for the trigger.

4. In a marble shooting mechanism, a pistol of the kind described having a groove as a guiding means for a marble discharged therefrom, a spring to hold the marble in the rear end of the groove and in'axial-relation sion of the elastic band on the plunger, a I

spring tensioning the trigger and a guard protecting the trigger and simultaneously attaching the spring to the grip of the pistol.

LESLIE R. TRIPP. 

